Ornithology of Cyprus. 405 



where I find they are very familiar and tame, frequenting 

 the old secluded Turkish gardens of which so many exist 

 inside the walls. Mr. G. F. Wilson informs me that this 

 species occurs in other towns in the island. It is certainly 

 a resident, but in Cyprus, as I understand is the case in 

 other places, seems to dwell only in inhabited areas in an 

 almost semi-feral state. 



900. Turtur senegalensis (Linn.). 



Horsbrugh and I found the Senegal Turtle-Dove in 

 small numbers — in parties of three or four — on the 

 Government farm at Athalassa, near Nicosia, at the 

 beginning of May 1909. The locality is covered with 

 young wattle and eucalyptus trees, and is well suited to 

 the bird's habits. Perhaps I need hardly add that after 

 five years' residence in Pretoria I am most intimately 

 acquainted with this species, and as Horsbrugh knows it 

 in South Africa as well as I do, there could be no possible 

 doubt as to its identity. 



904. Pterocles arenarius (Pall.). 



It is unfortunate that, though Sand-Grouse are at 

 times abundant in the Mesaoria plains, very little is yet 

 known as to the number of species which actually visit 

 or live in the island. Sand-Grouse are well known to the 

 English sportsmen in Cyprus. They are extremely wary and 

 shy, but a few are bagged every year in the autumn. 



Mr. G. F. Wilson, who has shot a large number, considers 

 that three species of Pterocles occur in Cyprus : no doubt 

 P. arenarius and P. alchata, and perhaps P. exustus, though 

 until further definite information is forthcoming it is, of 

 course, impossible to speak with certainty, except as to the 

 two former species. 



I have, hitherto, only been able to identify the Black- 

 bellied Sand-Grouse (P. arenarius). Miss Bate procured 

 an immature male in the Nicosia bazaar in November 1901, 

 and picked up some feathers belonging to this species in 

 the plains not far from that town. Mr. G. F. Wilson has 

 lent me two eggs, taken a few years ago in the Mesaoria, 



